A common ancestor at 500 ka?

H. heid. in Europe and

LCA of Nea. and sapiens? The origin of our species (H. sapiens) TWO origins to explain:

1.The shared (species) features

2. Non-shared (regional/racial) features Origins of modern behaviour?

Complex technology

“Houses Networking”

Symbolic burials

Art Models of modern human origins

1984 1970

1987: hits the headlines!

Mitochondrial DNA and Nature 325, 31-36 Rebecca L. Cann, Mark Stoneking & Allan C. Wilson (1987)

African female ancestor ~200ka The pendulum starts swinging!

2000 1995 1995 1984 1970 The African record H. sapiens: fossils suggest an African origin for the modern pattern ~ 150-200ka?

Age ka ~260 ~150? ~160? ~195? >130

Tim White Lieberman Pinnacle Point Howiesonspoort

Microliths Klasies Twin Rivers Enakpune Mumba ya Muto Shellfishing

Grotta Moscerini

Ochre

Kapthurin Twin Rivers Klasies Qafzeh Blombos

300 ka 200 150 100 50 0 Taforalt

Shell beads

Skhul Enakpune Blombos ya Muto Early H. sapiens fossils Omo Kibish Herto

“Modern” anatomy and behaviour have deep roots in Africa… ~60 ka: Modern start to leave Africa…

? Out of Africa Mitochondrial DNA

Out of Africa Y-chromosome DNA The evolution of regionality (“race”)

DNA benetton

Bottlenecks + Founder Effects

Sexual/cultural selection We are all the same (species), but we all look different (individuals, ♀/♂, regions, “races”).

Species Individuals (Homo sapiens) large brain Natural Selection body shape high round skull Sexual Selection skin colour small face hair chin Founder Effect nose small browridges Drift eyes lightly-built skeltn lips etc

Chauvet ~35ka

40-60 ka: Neanderthals and moderns meet?

? Art and music 30-40 ka Female figurines Europe and Asia Animals and flutes: Hohle Fels & Vogelherd ~ 40ka What happened to the Neanderthals? Continuity? Evolved into the Cro-Magnons Genetically absorbed

Extinction? Interpopulation conflict Demographic disadvantage Competitive exclusion Infectious diseases Distinct physiologies/diets Competition/fluctuating climates Climate change Part of megafaunal extinctions

Modelling using Greenland Ice Core and European Pollen data: did a combination of low temperatures, rapid oscillations AND new competitors cause the final extinction of the Neanderthals in Europe? Period of high climatic Nea extinction stress AND Nea-mod overlap

Stringer et al. 2003/The Stage 3 Project Interbreeding?

Ancient DNA

Cell

1. Interbreeding with Neas?

2.Interbreeding with Denisovans?

The pendulum swings back a bit!

2012 “Mostly Out of Africa”

The future? The future? Our future is partly up to us…. Thanks to you all for listening, and to… The Natural History Museum London and all my sources of data and illustrations..